Ara on the Mats

My student Ara Grigoryan testing for high blue belt.

Back in May 2011, right around Memorial Day weekend, I had a man and his wife with their two young children come in to my school. The man was very tall with a stern face. They were not coming in to see about the martial arts program for their kids, they were coming in to see about taking martial arts for themselves. It seemed like his wife was really the one who wanted him to do it.

So the two began a trial where they came to class once a week on Mondays together. After the trial, the two began to really enjoy the martial arts classes, and the wife began to do the fitness classes as well and her husband would take more martial arts classes a week. Over the course of a few months, the husband really warmed up to me and the other students and you began to see a positive energy exude from him and even his wife. Their names were Ara and Juneta (Yoo-nehta).

They took their first color belt test in October of Halloween weekend. It was the year we had crazy weather and it SNOWED tremendously. TMAFC still had power so we had ther belt test as planned. They did very well and afterwards a whole bunch of us went back to their house where we had what I believe was a FEAST! We had a night full of food, laughter, and good times. I think there was nine of us for that first dinner. And hence, Ara, Juneta, and the kids were a part of the family! (You can read about it HERE.)

Over some time, they continued to go through their ranks and even their children began to do martial arts. Juneta over time found a greater purpose for herself with martial arts, which I personally think caught her by surprise. And Ara, as we know him, is one of the sweetest men you'll ever meet. He is a good father, a great student, and a damn good team player. He has always been encouraging and supportive to all of the students of all ages. Eventually, Ara also began to compete for the school and has done very well in Olympic style sparring, forms, and eventually point sparring.

Husband and wife sparring! Juneta gets a good shot on Ara!

This past month, my instructor for Saturdays has been unable to teach due to personal things happening in her life, so when I needed someone to cover the classes, Ara stepped up and volunteered. Ara is now a high red belt, our Senior Competition Team Captain, and will be testing for low brown belt in October. A few weeks ago he taught only the second class while I was at the Korean school I teach at on Saturdays. When I returned from the Korean school, classes were going on still and I just sat and watched Ara as he taught.

I observed very carefully. I listened to how he was speaking, I listened to how he explained material to different students by age and rank. I was beyond pleased and so proud. He went straight through the curriculum, and he used notes from his own classes to follow as well. He was loud and assertive in his speaking, but also very encouraging. He acknowledged good things students did, he crituqued positively to improvements needed to be made. He referenced and reiterated things that I would say, like "Remember, like Master Trento always says..." and he included himself in the language he would speak to them like "When WE train, this is how WE...."; this is very good language to be using when teaching a class.

He also went outside the box and made sure not only were the students doing well in the class but also challenging them with different objectives to keep everyone stimulated and focused while still improving. He commanded the dojang so well, I was so proud watching him. The best thing, for me, was that he kept me in the classroom while I physically wasn't in the classroom. THAT is key! That is so important because if I ever were not on the mats for whatever reason, I have to know that things will run smooth and well, and the quality of the training is not compromised at all. It was like I wasn't even absent, and that's so important and it's been a long while since I've had that.

I am so proud of Ara and grateful for him to stepping up. I am proud of him as my student and he's always been a good friend to me as well. Ara you represented very well and did a fantastic job teaching the Saturday classes this month and thank you for "keeping me" on the mats even when I wasn't there!

Ara won three gold medals at the New York Metropolitan AAU Qualifier last year!

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Shane Dawson's Movie

In 2008, life made some huge changes for me. I was living on my own, I got fired from my job, I was working on creating my own business, and I had an entourage of friends who would come over every Sunday for dinner that are really no longer around anymore. It was a very good time but a very stressful time. Life was rough which made it stressful, but times were good and happy. When I found myself stressed and not able to sleep really late at night I would surf YouTube.

This was something Frankie would do. Look at random videos and he would show me them here and there. One time he showed me a video of this kid pretending his name was Fred with a high pitched voice. So one night it led me to looking around and I found a video of this kid pretending to be Fred with his high pitched voice and by the end of the video he was dressed up in as thie ghetto character Shanaynay and I remember busting out laughing. I watched another video called DMV with him and his character Shanaynay and whenever I need a laugh, I watch it.

Shane Dawson is one year older than me. He began making YouTube videos and wanted to become an actor. He would have what some may call a little raunchy humor, but very creative. In the essence of Joan Rivers, he said whatever it was everyone else was thinking which made it funny, but he also had the no limitations like Don Rickles, with sometimes the mouth of Richard Pryer and Robbin Williams.

Now most people who know me would be shocked that I find his humor hilarious because I can get offended easily. But he is so funny. It's funny! That's the bottom line. There's no harm in what he does or say you can tell it's all about getting a laugh, and he earns it! His videos began to become more and more professional, and we would love seeing his new skits on Ask Shane, or Shane and Friends with all of his characters he created, interactive videos, he went into spoof music videos, he also did original songs with music videos and sold on iTunes, but we also got to know him as a person with another channel he made to vlogging.

Hanging with Shane I remember seeing him move from home to home, he lived in several apartments, to all the animals added to his home, to when he was fired from working at Jenny Craig, to his grandmother dying, to him being able to take his family to Disney World, to winning a Kids Choice Award, to his emotional thank you to for his one million subscribers, to his T shirts being sold in Hot Topic, to his night adventures with his brother or friends, to his great tributes to his mother who he adores. Over the years we got to really know Shane as a person.

I began my business in 2009, and opened in 2010, and a couple of students reminded me of him. During a depressing time, I went back and watched every single one of his videos to date. He got me to get away from the troubles, gave me time to forget about what was going on in life, and above all he made me laugh. Laughter, as I've blogged about countless of times, is a gift to all people. My favorite is Lucy, but I've always loved Carol, Betty , Hope, Burns, and Williams. But here was someone I watched work so hard to making his dreams come true, while I was working hard to making mine.

A couple of years ago he came to New York to open a premier for a friend's movie coming out. I blogged about how much he meant to me during difficult times, as he has to so many people. I knew I really wanted to meet him. SO when I heard he was going to the AMC in New York, I KNEW iI was going to take my chance and I always showed my students that no matter how big or small your dreams are, you gotta go and make it happen, just as Shane himself was striving to do. So I made the trip and I got to meet Shane Dawson.

That was mission number one. Mission number two was a harder one. I didn't want to just meet Shane Dawson, but I wanted him to do a video at my school. My students would really get to see, no matter what, you can make what seems impossible possible. But I have been watching Shane through our parallel journeys for six years, almost seven, that I would really actually love to be his real life friend. Not a cyber viewer friend like everyone else. I have big goals, for big things. And I know Shane is going to make it big one day. Actually, I know besides acting he really wants to direct. I would love for my story to be directed by him.

For almost a year, Shane worked on his very first movie. It's in the top ratings of iTunes and was playing in theatres all over. He was returning to New York to plug his movie. I had to see him again. I know I am another nobody, he had a bazillion fans telling him how much he meant to them, how much he made them smile and laugh, how great they think he was, etc. But truth is, I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I've watched him since the beginning. And I was so very proud of him for making this movie and getting out there and DOING it. I wanted to get to tell him that.

And I did. I was last on line to see him, just like last time we met. I walked up to him and gave him a great big bug and told him where I came from, and told him how long I watched him, like everyone else, but I looked at him dead in his eyes and said "Shane I am so proud of you. You did it. You're making it happen, and I know you're going to be bigger than now one day." I think anyone can see that, but I also know when you're in the midst of it all, it's hard to see and believe and hearing it is important. I hope he knew how sincere I was.

Prior to viewing the movie and seeing all his fans, he made an apology video for offending some viewers who were attacking him and accusing him of being racist. Shane, I know you're reading this and I want you to know, no apologies! You're not out to hurt people, and truth is, these people aren't really offended. They are committed to just wanting to put you down. It's like here, there are Yankee fans and anti-Yankee fans, just because. I remember when Joan Rivers was being roasted and one of the comedians made a joke that made the audience go "OOOooooooo!!!" and Joan turned to them and waved her hadn in disgust calling out "OH shut up! It's FUNNY!!" Same goes for you Shane. You're gonna get bigger and it's only going to get worse, and you're doing nothing intentional to harm people. It's funny, like all the other greats. They need to get over it. No apologies needed.

I continue to watch Shane Dawson for good laughs quite often. Some people may not appreciate his humor. But many do. He has always made me laugh when I didn't want to laugh and anyone who can do that has a gift. I haven't completed my second mission with Shane yet, but it's still on the table. But I do believe in this kid, and I know he'll be great and I can saw I knew him when. I'd love to really know him too. But over the years, I think I have. I really am so proud of him. Shane, congratulations on your movie. Enjoy the success, and let the ones who are committed to not liking you just miss out. You're making your dreams come true. That's more than any of them can say. (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Schuman Dedication

Coach Howard Schuman

There are some people who are just legends who do great things. I was very proud to be a part of a high school that has a long lasting history and tremendous teachers who have all had a great impact on me. But if you ask any alumnus who came from that school, especially the early years on, they would probably say that some of these teachers were legends in themselves. They were true to form, masters of education. One of those great legends was Mr. Howard Schuman.

Mr. Schuman was a physical education teacher and head track coach at Saddle Brook High School for over 30 years. I had him for two years of middle school and all four years of high school, and I also ran with him in cross country briefly in high school, just to say I've been coached some way by Mr. Schuman. How could you go to Saddle Brook High School and NOT get coached by him?!

Mr. Schuman was enthusiastic and spirited. He was very proud to be a "falcon" and worked his team hard. His track and cross country teams were the largest in our school, next to football. People lined up out the door to be coached by the legendary Mr. Schuman. He produced some of the greatest athletes for 30 years, and every morning after some student made the morning announcements, we all awaited the voice of Mr. Schuman. He would get on that microphone and hound away at the results of the last track meet, proudly announcing EVERY SINGLE one of his athletes and the progress they made and the results of their meet. He did not miss ONE!

He took pride in his athletes which made the students take pride in them as well. His enthusiasm was contagious. But he taught respect above all else, not only on the track but in the gym in class. He had no problem stopping everything we were doing in class and talk 20 minutes of the class about keeping respect for one another. That's a true educator.

Coach Schuman coached the Saddle Brook High School track team from 1974 to 2007 with 100 county and state championships, producing some of the greatest athletes.

I interviewed Mr. Schuman when he retired from Saddle Brook High School in 2007. By then he had already 100 league, county, and state championships and inducted into the NJ COaches Hall of Fame in 2000. It was an honor to sit down with him and get to know him personally and hear the advice and the insight of Mr. Schuman as a teacher, as a coach, as a father, and as a person. He heard it in his voice how proud he was to be a part of his school. He gave so much to his students, to his athletes, to the school itself. Seven years after his retirement, it was time for the school to give back to Mr. Schuman.

Over the course of the last few years, the high school had construction done which included a brand new track for the school. Saddle Brook High School dedicated the track to Coach Howard Schuman in honor of his great success. It truly was an honor well earned and deserved. I am sure the entire town was in agreement and probably have talked about it for the last few years since the track was re-established.

 At the ceremony, there were students and athletes as well as faculty from old to new who attended to honor the coach. Speakers included an athlete from the class of '74 and the class of '87, another of the physical education teachers who worked with him for 30 years, Board of Education president, and then of course a speech from the coach himself. He was greeted by a standing ovation and he was thrilled and said that to be greeted with a standing ovation from the town he lived in for 38 years, there was "nothing better."

In attendance were his son which he thanked by saying "I'm so fortunate that my children, who are no longer children any more, were the best possible children I could ever have. I thank them and I love them very much." As his son Dave said, the definition of the word coach should be followed by his name. Congratulations Mr. Schuman, and thank you for your many years of Saddle Brook spririt, and your dedication to US the students! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

The Choir Rehearsal

Annie Conway O'Shaunessey, My mother Karen Lazzaro Trento, Aunt Jeannette Lazzaro Ligouri, Lynne Van-Wyk-Wojick learning music with Mr. Chuck Broadhurst years after high school. 

Me in the 2005 Winter Concert with the Choraleers under Mrs. Cindy Verost

 "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent."

-Victor Hugo

SBHS Alumni singing under Mr. Broadhurst in 1999

Me singing at the Spring concert in 2006. 

 "If music be the food of love, play on,

Give me excess of it,; that surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken, and so die."

-William Shakespeare 

Back in 1964, Saddle Brook High School established it's choral program where vocal music would be taught to the students of the high school. The school itself was only in it's first few years of being established at the time. A man named Charles Broadhurst, originally from the mid west, had come to teach the vocal music department. The program began with eight or nine students in the choir. Two years later, there may have been eighty or ninety students in the choir.

By the seventies, the choir itself could be anywhere from 100-200 people. The choir was then split into Boys Glee Club where the boys sang their own pieces, the Girls' Glee Club which the girls sang their own pieces, the select choir known as the Choraleers, and of course the full choir sang together. The Choral department would have it's own concert in the winter and in the spring. Also incorporated in the school were the Spring Musicals which were known to be so professional and Broadway like at the time. To this day, no director would ever touch Fiddler on The Roof because you just can't compare it to the 1978 class production.

For 30 years, Mr. Broadhurst ran the choral department. What better legacy than to have an alumnus continue the school traditions and build the program in itself. Mrs. Cynthia Verost, class of 1975 became the SBHS Choral Director. Along with her own twenty years experience in teaching music and from the things she learned from Mr. Broadhurst, she continued to keep the Saddle Brook spirit alive in the music department.

Let's face it, times have changed and Mrs. Verost has had roadblocks that did not exist in the 1970s and 1980s. But no matter what roadblocks she has had in continuing pushing for an art program such as vocal music, she has created a choir for middle school, taught piano and drums, brought the choir to music festivals in Jackonsville, NJ by Six Flags and Virginia Beach, and several times to the Christmas Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World (which they will be going to this year and donations to help would be greatly appreciated-- she can be contacted at Saddle Brook High School).

However, some of the staple traditions are still alive such as the Choraleers which Mr. Broadhurst established in 1966. The Spring Musicals still go on each year. And at every Holiday concert, the concert ends with alumni in the audience joining for the final three pieces Carol of the Bells, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and The Hallelujah Chorus. This is a tradition that my mother, my aunts, uncles, and close friends of us all who graduated through all the years look forward to each year.

Me singing with my mother and aunt during the Alumni pieces at one of the holiday concerts. 

Alumni always sing Carol of the Bells, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and the Hallelujah Chorus.

Some of the choir in 2007 at the NOrth American Music Festival in Virginia. 

In 1978, 1990, 1994, and 1999 Alumni have had reunions to get together and celebrate and sing, and enjoy. It is now 50 years since the Saddle Brook High School Choir has been established. So this November, a reunion concert will be held in honor of the Choir that has been going strong for 50 years! Conducted by Mrs. Verost, who is still the choral director, alumni from 1964-2014 will be coming together for a magnificent reunion!

Recently, a group of local alumni got together to rehearse a few pieces of music just to get familiar with the music ahead of time, which may help when all of the participating alumni for our day reunion for the 50th anniversary. It was really so nice to be in that room again, and I think everyone who was there felt that way. Some alumni, I know feel bittersweet, knowing Mr. Broadhurst will not be there (it's been ten years since his passing), but they all know he will be there in spirit. I know alumni, such as myself, look forward to once again being taught and directed by Mrs. Verost.

We may not all know each other, some never met before. But we all share a common bond: music. It was a gift that has been passed down like an art. We share a love for the directors and the people we have met. It is a spirit that has been strong for fifty years and we are all excited and honored to be a part of it. And we hope if you're local that you can be a part of it as well.

ANY AND ALL CHOIR ALUMNI who want to sing for the concert, please reach out and sign up at THIS LINK. The concert will be 7:30 on November 29, 2014. It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Those who are in town, please come to the concert! Tickets will be $5, and alumni, it's an all day event! Rehearsals, lunch, concert, and after party! It will be a beautiful way to celebrate 50 years of a magnificent tradition! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Loyalty and Virtue

Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee with Grandmaster Frank Yee, a solid loyal lineage.

 "Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles from less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses."

-Ann Landers

One of my dear friends worked for a job that made her do things according to their policies that went against her values. In order to keep her job, she had to do what her predecessors in authority told her to do. She was in charge of hiring people for the facility she worked for. She would run into many people who were good people, some had a past like all of us, and they would come for a job trying to make great changes for themselves. But her company would not hire them because of their past mistakes.

In one instance, someone was hired and they ended up finding they were arrested for some stupid reason. Because they were already hired, they could not let them go for that reason, but would inform the supervisors of the facility to "look for something" to fire them for. Fire them for "something". It would break my dear friend's heart. She hated lying to good people who were looking to work hard, saying she would call if anything opened up, knowing there was a position available they'd be perfect for. She hated that she had to go against her values due to this job. This is one of many circumstances that were entailed in her job. Apparently this happens every day in corporate America.

Jack Canfield taught me that when you do things against your values, it erodes your self-esteem. It can destroy a person when you are forced to do things in the day to day that just are not of your virtue. When I was younger, I understood this, and even lost my job because of it when I was put in a situation that compromised my values. I knew what I was being asked was wrong and out of line, and I wanted to teach my students to stand up for what you believe in, especially when you know it is wrong. Even though I lost my job several years ago for it, it was the right thing and the truth. Several years later, however, I lost myself and began behaving in ways that did compromise who I was and it destroyed a great deal of who I was. I know that may be vague but you can look forward to the book or a future blog.

SO when Sifu was over for a little get together a few weeks ago, my dear friend happened to be present there when I asked Sifu how to deal with being in a position where an authoritarian or someone in a position of authority makes you do something against your values. He immediately began to discuss the importance in the Chinese culture of loyalty and virtue. In China (Or at least Chinese martial arts), there is nothing more important than this.

Me and my master Sifu Pedro Yee; I am proud of be a part of this loyal lineage.

 "To bring good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him."

-Buddha

Nothing should ever break loyalty. When you swear loyalty or allegiance to anyone, there is nothing that should ever break this sacred bond. In this country, if you say "I give my word," that means NOTHING to anybody, and no one would believe you or take you on it. In China, you say "I give my word" and it is gold. There is nothing greater to one's honor and loyalty goes beyond limits. You follow and do whatever your master says no matter what.

I remember a story Sifu told of a Chinese general, General Kuan (aka Kawn or Guan Gong) who gave up his own life rather than betray the loyalty of his own training brother. Loyalty is a treasure of great stature. You may not agree or understand, but you follow and listen without question. HOWEVER! If you KNOW that your master or predecessor is doing something wrong, or not of good integrity, then you must follow the path of virtue.

Virtue is the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. Patience is a virtue, we have all heard that. My grandfather will joke, so is consideration. But the Chinese also knew, if we were to go against our virtue, it would not only bring us dishonor, but hurt us as a human being. If the loyalty you have is based on the stature of virtue and not ego or selfish needs or greed, you are on a greater path to better....well....I'll use the word enlightenment I guess.

Always stand upon the values which you stand on. It keeps a strong sense of self and self-esteem. Self-confidence is your force-field against negativity and doubt. If keeps your healthier mentally and more stable as a human being. I am honored and proud to being a part of lineages I share, which I am very loyal to. The mentors and masters I follow all have great integrity and do not force me to go against my values and want to build me up with no strings attached. It what makes the loyalty so strong and pure.

In fact, one of my mentors was the general manager of a gym. The owner was very nasty to her, berated her, overstepped boundaries, and very borderline abusive verbally and emotionally. Luckily my mentor has VERY strong and thick skin. But in the end, one too many times is one too many times. It didn't matter if she had a mortgage, five kids, and single parent, she would rather find other means to making her life work and doing what she had to do then to be treated the way she was being treated, after going above and beyond, more than anyone who came after her contributed. She valued herself first and followed virtue, what was right and what was wrong.

My dear friend stepped down from her position as well. She could no longer do the things she felt were wrong in her field of work, and also stepped up for herself when she knew she was being told she was wrong for not doing the wrongdoing she was instructed to do. It didn't matter, it was not worth it. She was happier than ever, thrilled, and had a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. Know when to be Loyal, and know when to be stand on virtue. 

Me and Master Kevin Balon, my sacred Taekwondo lineage.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Specialization: When is it Important, and when is it Not.

Simo, Sifu, and I (Don't I look Chinese?!)

A few weeks ago, Sifu and Simo came over for a little bit. A small group of us got together for dinner and to spend time with each other. Sifu has been working a great deal on a major project with Sigung (Not sure if I'm supposed to give any details on it yet) but they have been working very hard. I was also working on several projects myself, so it was nice for all of us to take a break on work and JUST BE and relax.

It was a beautiful night of eating, relaxing, enjoying each others' company, answering questions about Qigong, making it rain on and off with Qi, hearing two versions of how Simo and Sifu met between the two (which I wish I filmed as it was cute, entertaining, sweet, and hilarious), and just enjoying the moment of BEING.

But of course, when the master is present, I will always pick his brain for knowledge and insight. He made a comment a few days prior to seeing him about specialization. I am two years into my master training, and it has always been very important to me to be a very well rounded martial artist. My roots were very well rounded, thanks to my first master. I have great training in traditional Taekwondo forms, great training in Olympic style sport-Taekwondo, great training in self-defense, great training in fitness, great training in psychology and law of attraction, and great training in Qigong. I also train in Haganah, Songahm Taekwondo, and Hung Ga Kung Fu.

Over the years I have continued to build and master each "field" so to speak in my training. But there gets a point where specialty is important to choose and truly envelope one's abilities and expertise to grow as a master and a human being. After all, each of my mentors is the best in their field, even if they have experience in the other fields. Charlene is the best fitness trainer. Mary Ellen is the greatest psychoanalyst around. No one comes close to Master Balon in traditional Taekwondo. Master Bardatsos is the best in the area for sport Taekwondo. Master Canzoneiri is fantastic in his Qigong. Mr. Valentino is superb in Songahm style of Taekwondo. And Master DeJesus is an elite expert in self-defense.

Even Sifu himself, it's not only me but most who meet him can see he is the best at what he does. He specialty in Hung Ga Kung Fu cannot be challenged. His true understanding and continuous building upon this art inside and out, along with the help with Sigung's guidance I am sure. I believe Sifu is the only person handed down the secrets of the art in it's entirety by Grandmaster Frank Yee.

I heavily train in many fields, but in my training I am certainly not spread out too far. Can't say the same for general life things LOL, but my training I love having well rounded aspects. But I do believe in my continuing master training, I will have to decide in a specialization to enhance my growth even further.

Even founders of an art like Mike Lee Kanarek, founder of Haganah. He knows his entire system inside and out and it has come from years of experience. But he will be the first to tell you his passion is Muy Thai and his specialty in his system is knife fighting. He actually has other people within his own system who will certify people in other aspects of his system because he feels they're better than him at it and it is their specialty. That's not to say he cannot do it or know it to an elite level. But his specialty is in knife fighting and his passion lies in Muy Thai.

So in personal growth, specialty is significant. HOWEVER, it is bad for business! Specialization is good for a well rounded business for multiple streams of income. I could have a wellness center that offers aromatherapy, hypnosis, Qigong, and Reiki. But My specialty may be aromatherapy. I may know the others, but you'll get the best from me in aromatherapy and the best from someone else with their specialty, such as Qigong.

So Specialization has it's place and others it's not important. So have a well thriving practice of any sort, you want to be well rounded. It is also important to have a good experience in being as jack of all trades. I find that a compliment. For how can you teach or know or understand without being experiential? Without having that understanding and knowledge? But to be the best at something, you take you specialty and allow it to enhance you in ways you could never have foreseen before. Especially in the higher ranks of martial arts. I guess that will be my mission eventually. (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Remembering the Dreams

"It was all a dream, but it was a dream I couldn't get enough of. I've held on to the dream every day of my life ever since and done everything I could to make it come true."

"Do not confuse dreams with wishes. There is a difference. Dreams are where you visualize yourself being successful at whats important to you to accomplish. And dreams build convictions. Because you work hard to pay the price to make sure that they come true. Wishes are hoping that good things will happen to you. With wishes, there is no fire in your gut, pushing you to the limit to overcome every obstacle to reach your heart's desire. My desire to pursue my dreams has always been greater than my fear of not accomplishing them."

-Dolly Parton in Dream More

Dreams. I once knew someone who's business quote was "Dream...then turn it into a reality." I've always had dreams. If there is one thing I can give myself credit, it's that I have always put effort into making my dreams come true. My dreams have what always kept me going, and my dreams have also kept me alive. Those who know me best know how literal that is. 

I think like so many other people, I wanted to BE somebody. I grew up appreciating and studying history of all kinds. I also grew up watching some of the greatest pioneers of our country. I not only watched them and enjoyed their work, but I was strongly attracted to their work ethic and philosophies. I would actually study them. As I have said in previous blogs, I love watching a master at work, of any kind. I very much wanted to be a master in my own field, and I always took that responsibility and title very seriously. 

I was eight turning nine. The first decision I ever made for myself was to start martial arts training. I did a lot of things like baseball, soccer, basketball, all things I was terrible at. I was an awkward kid, lanky, uncoordinated, and did not think very much of myself. Then one day I did a Buddy Day at a martial arts school, which then enrolled me into four weeks of summer camp. Martial arts and I fell in love at first sight. 

I am so lucky and blessed to have found and known at a young age that THIS is what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I just knew. Sound crazy? Good! If it doesn't then it takes away from how very real that moment was when I made this choice. Like I said, this is what I was supposed to do on this earth. It wasn't like it was just something I always liked and turned into a passion. From the moment I entered my first dojang and through a kick. This was the tool God would use for me to do whatever it is I was created for. 

When I was nine years old, I KNEW I was going to do two things one day. 1) I WILL become a martial arts master. 2) I WILL have my own school one day. All the other kids my age wanted to be Pokemon masters. I was strange from the get-go. As a kid, into a teenager, into a young adult, I still do the serious planning and organizing of my dreams, short term goals list, long term goals list, deadlines, specifics to how to get there, asking the right questions; I have done this all my life.

"It took me a while to realize that the more you learn, the easier it is to learn."

"I know that a good part of my work ethic comes from my desire to give the best that I can at all times. I never have considered myself a perfectionist, but I do think of myself as a 'professionalist.'"

"Happiness is your commitment to appreciating all that is good in life, big and small."

-Dolly Parton

I recently read a book by Dolly Parton. Ironically, a week before I read the book, I watched a Barbara Walters interview with Dolly Parton. She always knew she wanted to be a "star" and loved her fairy tales. Everything she did was to live in her real life fairy tale, she told Walters. It didn't matter what it took. What I loved about her book is that she put into words a lot of things I, myself, would feel in my heart. 

Dolly is a beautiful person, a phenomenal philanthropist, a contributor in an array of ways to humanity, and truly is a class act star. Reading her book got me to really reflect on my own goals and dreams, some of which I have had all my life, some I did achieve, and some I am in constant movement to achieve. But one thing that came to mind was when I was nine years old telling myself that I WILL do those two things, becoming a master and owning my own school. 

June 5, 2010, I cannot begin to tell you the tremendous and surreal feeling when I opened the doors to Trento's Martial Arts and Fitness Center. I always wanted a place where I could train and teach. I wanted it to be a place where people would be inspired to become the best they can be and transform themselves, and a place where they felt comfortable to being themselves. Over the years I have added and changed so many things, I cannot believe how far the center has come with what I have there now. 

June 23, 2012, I'll never forget all of the work and high standards and expectations I held for myself to receiving the title of "master." People I have worked with whom I respected and put on pedestals for their teaching abilities and what they have offered me as a person, I wanted to have the best aspects of these people within me, and would not have been satisfied unless the time, work, and service was put into it. I remember the tears welling up in my eyes when Master Balon wrapped my 4th Dan Black Belt around my waste. Any true Black Belt knows its never about that cotton thing around your waist but what it represents. 

Since then, I've made newer goals and created new dreams. Some I would have never thought I would ever want to accomplish. Some I don't think I would ever have had the nerve to pursue. And it's all exciting to me. However, the last year or so, I have been very distracted. I have been very discouraged, and I feel as if I in a way fell off the bandwagon for my own self. Many people will say comforting things and steer me in the right direction, but I know my own standards and anything less than that will not be acceptable in the Trento-verse. 

"The few people in this world who care more change the world and the people around them. Those who don't give a rat's behind have to have someone to care for them."

-Dolly Parton

 Reading Dolly's book was very inspiring to me. I understood her language very well, I identified with her views very strongly. I also related to much of the experience she was sharing, and I found her story most fascinating. She reminded me to dream big and to keep dreaming. It was nice to be reminded, as I reflect, of my own dreams, and re-establishing what my dreams are. I love planning and figuring out how to get there, and of course asking the big questions to how I can get there and what my options are.

She reminded me to always learning. I am ALWAYS in a constant state of learning. I seek out the greatest mentors to work with and am ALWAYS reading. I read every day. Some of my closest friends know I am always up for a good positive story, a biography or autobiography of some of the greats, or even a textbook (currently reading a high school psychology textbook--I know, I know). But she also reiterated that it is the ones who care the most who make the greatest difference in the world. And I must say all the mentors I have and had cared very deeply for what they do and I believe that's what makes them the best at what they do as well. 

And I do care very much for what I do. I hope people see that when I am "on". I've been more "on" these days than I've been in a long while. I feel energy flowing better than it has been. And when energy flows right, and the Qi is clear, good things come into your life. Dolly also encourages us to BE more. As I have said so many times before, as long as we are alive, we are always in a state of becoming. We are on a road where we don't know where we are going until we get there, and sometimes we don't know where to go once we get there.

"Being more is all about following the Golden Rule and bringing into your life a commitment to be fair, generous and compassionate to everybody. And i do mean everybody! So if I have but one hope for you-- always remember you cannot be more than a real somebody!"

-Dolly Parton

(BOWS)

Yours in service,

MASTER A TRENTO

The YouTube Channel

So I am doing my best to keep up with the times. I don't do well, I am usually behind. When it comes to technology and social media, I do not keep up with it all. It actually irks me how much of the old 1950s mentality of "keeping up with the Jones's" is alive today. I feel people learn to not appreciate the things they have and nothing is ever enough, and I don't want to contribute that to our world. Everyone always has to have the next big thing, the next great toy, and no one is original anymore. Just because everyone else has it or whatever, doesn't mean I have to and I definitely don't want to.

The world moves fast as it is and everyone wants to move faster. No one knows where they're going and they're trying to get there too fast. However, there are some other times when you just need to be "with it". In an attempt to increase my online presence for my own center, I have a wonderful media director along with a fellow business adviser who have taken an idea and went with it. Not only have they went with it, but they knew how to do it and they do it right and WELL.

I have had a YouTube channel for years. Why did I have on? Because I wanted to like and subscribe to Shane Dawson's channel, a famous YouTuber who makes me laugh and I respect very much, knowing his background. You can't subscribe or like videos unless you create a channel. Never did I ever think of using it for my business. We have filmed already what must be 20 videos. No structure or rhyme of reason. Just enough material and things that I do at my center.

Sometimes it's forms, sometimes its self-defense, sometimes its me talking about something important to me, sometimes it's Qigong, sometimes its philosophical, sometimes it is fitness related. Sometimes he is filming me talk and I don't even realize it because he wants people to see me naturally be. And that's kind of what I want. I want people to see me as I am, what they will get, and hope that people will want to join us in our journey. So every Wednesday, a new video on the channel will be out for TMAFC, my center.

However, there is something else I've been wanting to do for a very VERY long time. Every Friday starting Sept 5, I will have a separate set of videos being pushed in a series called "The Martial Way". The first three episodes are just me, but the future ones will be me and a panel of a few people, always changing, to discuss things related to the martial arts, or at least came through from my martial arts training. No topic goes untouched. Martial arts, styles. fitness, nutrition, exercise, competition, self-esteem, focus, self-defense, bullying, sexual harassment, learning and memory, women in martial arts, masters and students, benefits to martial arts, what to look for in a school, instruction quality, Olympics -- you name it, we'll discuss it.

I think a lot of people would be interested in some of the topics and it's another avenue I get to use to teach. I hope that other martial artists and teachers would find it interesting, parents of martial artists, people who just like martial arts, etc. The videos at first will be short 10-15 minute videos, but I am hoping as it gains popularity and more interest, I hope it can grow to full fledged half hour or more show kind of setting. And the constant changing of people on the panel will also give a new fresh perspective on a slue of topics.

But there is one other aspect of this venture. Once a month, I will be doing on the fourth or last Friday a one hour Master Trento Special with a high profiled interview with some of the greatest masters of the world. This is a way to bridge the martial arts together, for ME to learn from the best, a way for me to TEACH people about martial arts, and I also get to do something I really like to do. I want people to know about these great martial artists and have other martial artists learn from them. Some of them are founders or had a hand in founding some of our martial arts we have today. Some have an incredible story or beginning that I know will be awe inspiring for others.

SO it's all going to be on the same channel right now. It is www.youtube.com/TMAFCOnline. Please share it with everyone you know, view the videos, please give me feedback, and subscribe to the channel! And look for my TMAFC Videos every Wednesday at 1pm, and The Martial Way on Fridays which started Sept 5th! Please share the videos, give feedback, subscribe to the channel as well!

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

I Ching Roll

Three or so years ago, I learned from my master how to speak to Spirit. How weird do I sound?! But the truth is, we all can talk to Spirit. There is only ONE Spirit and it is Holy. Spirit speaks truth and truth only. There is no interpretation or versions of truth, truth is just what it is: Truth! My master (Sifu) said that the first thing I should do in the morning is get out paper and just write. Keep writing and don't stop and don't think. Before I knew it, the pen was going on it's own and the most amazing things would appear on paper.

It's kind of poetic language. It's a shame in times of chaos and uncertainty, I did not do this when I needed guidance and answers. It's a shame anyone who knows how to do this forgets to for the important things. It's easy to say one has rolled "retreat" when in reality that's only what the ego wants to do. After doing this Spirit writing for several months I learned to still my mind. Not clear my mind, that is something entirely different.

Keeping the mind still is a challenging skill, but very excellent to have. You never lose it once you have done it, and those who say they forgot or it's too hard, never had it (in my experience). When your mind is completely still, everything we know that is inside of us comes forth. Your senses are also extremely heightened. Do you know what it is like to hear the fly's wings fluttering that is above the ceiling tiles, or the scraping of grass hitting each other in the wind, or the scrape of the paper turning of a magazine or book from a distance, or the breathing of a person sitting on a bench so many yards away.

I guess through high levels of meditation you can do this. But you can also physically hear the voice of Spirit. It is s stern voice and yet again sometimes is very poetic. How crazy do I sound yet?! When my mind is in chaos, I do not hear the voice of Spirit. This is not natural to me. I have to work at it. It doesn't happen on command, and sometimes it gives me a headache. But it's so valuable. I am NOT a psychic or psychic by any means, but I guess you can say I am a "trained clairvoyant". I see things and information comes to me and I don't know how I know it or why I see what I see. People I have worked on can vouch on the coincide-ances that occur.

The Book of Changes, or I Ching has been around for thousands of years. Through special type of coins or yarrow sticks, one can create a hexagram. There are 64 hexagrams, two tri-grams over another encompassing all of human experience, verbal formulations, and cultural evaluations of the experience. It's an amazing art to know and I am privileged to know how to do it. I have a very old book and what I was warned years ago is that if you don't want to know the answer don't ask. What I have also found is that whatever the interpretation is, whatever it means to the one asking the question is what it means for them, period! I avoid yes and no questions.

The interpretation has an oracle meaning, then an interpretation known as ARTHA explaining the pursuit in prosperity in practical life. KAMA deals with relationships to people. MOKSHA is striving for spiritual liberation. (It's not voodoo or withcraft!) As the yin and yang lines are formed to make a hexagram, hard lines can change from yin to yang which can show the inevitable change in the lines. I have the three I Ching coins which are very special to me.

It's been a long time, but I rolled the coins for I Ching. I had a question and I'll share some of the interpretations which still fascinate me. This is what spirit had to say. I rolled #38 which was Neutrality.

ORACLE: 

Fire over the marsh. 

The superior man allows 

variations to the norm. 

Success in minor details.

This hexagram represents a stand-off neutrality between the counteracting forces within you....you are involved in a situation where two opposing viewpoints, two opposing sides, irreconcilably neutralize themselves into a stalemate....You constantly feel pulled in opposite directions. Whenever you consider acting, inactivity seems just as desirable.....You are not in a state of neurotic indecisiveness, although it might seem so. 

He has lost his horses.

He need not search for them;

they will return by themselves.

If he meets bad men

he can speak with them.

Guilt disappears.

You feel you have lost something. You have. Because of your new inner neutralization, [everything] have lost their traditional meaning for you....Do not regret these things. 

He meets his master in an alley. No mistakes....Your ambiguity about a factional dispute makes your relationships with a close friend, who is involved in the dispute, embarrassing from his point of view. It pains him, but he feel he must avoid you. 

You must eventually open up and accept this sincerity. 

The moving lines turned Neutrality into #16, Enthusiasm.

ORACLE:

Thunder is music to the earth.

The ancient kings composed music

in honor of their own virtue,

and presented it to God,

inviting their ancestors to be present.

Rally your forces 

and set them moving.

This is the hexagram of music that moves. This is the music that gathers together and inspires feelings of brotherhood and common cause. It is music without pretension  that seeks and woos and loves those who listen.....If you are not a musician, you still make this kind of music in whatever it is that you do and inspire similar enthusiasm with those with whom you work or live or socialize. You are an instrument on which you, yourself, play -- in an intense search for common bond and common mind and common breath among those around you. 

Music is the art of patterns in time. Dance is the art of patterns in time and space. Music and dance can bring about ecstatic enlightenment as no other art forms can. 

Some of it makes a great deal of sense, some of it is merely theory. But it certainly does amaze me what Spirit says sometimes. But it is not our abilities that determine who we are, it is our choices. And we always have the choice. (BOWS)

Yours in service,

MASTER A TRENTO

Joan Rivers

And yet again, another horrible loss. Although she hated being called it, but she was indeed a pioneer. Joan Rivers was the last of the real greats to pave the way for comedians in our culture. However, she also took a trade a made it her own and her work ethic was flawless. A true master of our time, she was the product of such a great caliber. I really don't feel she had to go.

It all started with Lucy. Lucy was the first and remains to be the best of women in comedy. If there was no Lucy there would be no Bea Arthur, no Betty White, no Carol Burnett, no Phyllis Diller, and no Fran Drescher. But there'dalso be no Joan Rivers. Joan has learned from all of these women, but she had a flare and taste that went beyond limits even these ladies would never cross.

Without Joan Rivers there'd be no Tina Fey, no Kathy Griffin, no Jenny Slate, no Sandra Bernhard, no Joy Behar, no Ellen DeGeneres, no Amy Poehler, and no Wanda Sykes. Rivers pushed the boundaries up to the day she died. No topic was off limits, she didn't mind using fowl language, she kept up with the famous men comedians, and some of the men couldn't even keep up with her!

I watched her roast a few years ago, and I watched the Documentary about her Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. watching and learning about her work was absolutely amazing. I love seeing a true master at work. She was open about her plastic surgeries, famous for her Fashion Police critiques, her red carpet interviews, her stand ups being absolutely hilarious, and even offered comedy in her darkest times in life, like when her husband committed suicide. I remember her saying in an interview "I'm still angry with him. That son of a b*tch! If I see him in heaven, I'll kill him!"

Some people thought her humor was off color or mean, but she always said that she told the truth and only said what everyone else was, which is what made it so funny. But she also had the view that if you were being made fun of and insulted by her, that you were worthy of something great enough to be recognized in such a way. When Joan Rivers was making fun of you, you knew you made it in showbiz!

But I also think of her big break when the great Johnny Carson really was the one to discover her and give her a chance. She was denied seven auditions to be on the Carson show and finally one day she made it on the show and Carson told her that she was going to be a star, and it changed her life. She was the ONLY permanent guest host for several years, and she always attributed a great deal of her success to Carson. But what also hits me is when she was given an opportunity to start her own show and she told him, he hung up on her and NEVER spoke to him again. It hurt her for many years not to have her mentor speak to her or be happy for her.

She did later win an Emmy for her show and in her teary acceptance speech remembers when there was a time she couldn't get a job at all in the business. I love the laughs she had made about herself like "My face has been tucked in more than a motel bed sheet" or when Lucille Ball asked her what it was like to be a sex symbol and she answered "It's difficult," and went on with a story about how she had bed curlers and fluffy slippers and told her husband Edgar "I'm ready" and he'd hold up a cross, or when asked what she wanted her grandson to be when he grew up she answered gay because who else is gonna care that she knew Judy Garland. LMAOOOO!!!

Laughter is a treasure beyond measure. There are people in our culture who have brought great laughter and the ones in our every day lives who make us laugh have a special gift. Always share that gift. That's what Joan Rivers did for so many others as well. I really feel like she didn't have to go so soon. But I'm sure she is having sold out performances in heaven already! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Quotes from my Book

It's getting there. I began writing my book when I was 17 years old. It is Eh-erm years later. It's on it's way. I began writing it for me and me alone. It was a way for me to just recollect and get it out of me. It was a way to reflect. I have been writing another book, just as long that I was going to publish to help others based on some of my own experiences. However, as time went on, some of my closest friends and myself believed that maybe sharing my own story wouldn't be such a bad idea.

It terrifies me. It scares me to do. It is very hard to write let alone share with others. But it can be inspiring to others. It may help others. Some who were there may find it invigorating to remember. Some may be fascinated not knowing what lie behind the red curtain. But my own story will never truly end, but my recent chapters of this part of my life may. Here are some of my favorite quotes I have come across lately through the editing process.

"I was so nervous to ask my mother, because I have never made such a decision for myself before. But I knew ever since I started that this is what I was supposed to be doing. Not many get that at my age."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks".

"I guess I was weird because every other kid my age wanted to be Pokemon masters. I wanted to be a martial arts master!"
-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks".

"I knew that there were two things that I was going to do in my life. One was that I WILL become a master one day. And second I WILL have my own school one day."
-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks".

"I was so proud to receive my first gold medal I brought it to my grandfather. He put the medal around his neck and the weight of the medal jerked his head a little bit. He said 'No wonder why you guys bow.'"
-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks".

"I don't remember ever going to bed with such a big smile on my face after that night with everyone. I knew what we were creating together was very special to us all."
-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks".

"It was such a great night of fun and laughs, I remember thinking nothing possibly could ever go wrong...."
-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks".

"I remember walking out and the light hit our face and we saw the large stadium come into focus. It was like something out of a movie."
-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"After seven years, I couldn't believe she was gone. We were there together through thick and thin, and the day we weren't together never occurred to me. I couldn't believe the physical pain it caused me." 
-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"It was snowing hard, but 20 of us still gathered in my apartment to have this Mastermind meeting. They were former colleagues, students, training partners, and Black Belts; all good friends (more like family), brought together for a purpose. These people helped provide the foundation this school would build upon."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"So many people were telling me that it's not the right time, the economy is bad, and that I'll never do it. All I knew was this: I didn't how I was going to do it, but I knew that I WILL." 

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"You do whatever it is in your power to be resilient as possible. It is not our job to educate the ignorant."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"I said to all who were there 'Not all of you here know each other, but you all have the same roots. The common denominator is what you all share. Always know where you have come from and know that all is welcome here.'"

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"The mentors saved my life."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"I couldn't see through my eyes but when I did, his face looked as if he turned to gold. The only thing that I had to know I wasn't dreaming was that my hair was moving from the tremendous wind."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"They don't want to be around you when you're struggling. Only when you're on the top."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"I made it a point to know every one of my students' names. I tried to create a cozy, relaxed atmosphere." 

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"The day just came when I knew I had to make a change. Deep inside I knew I had to make a change; I'm a believer in change. I think you have to shake up your life a bit and then see what happens." 

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"The hardest part about making adjustments with my students was never knowing how much to involve myself in their personal lives. After all I was not their parents, counseling was NOT my job, and I tried very hard not to overstep myself. How did I do? I failed miserably most of the time!"

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"You see, I was there. And when they were in trouble or they had a problem, I couldn't help myself from jumping in. However, they jumped a lot into MY life too."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks"

"There are times I wonder what it'll be like when they're gone. I wonder if I'll be lonely. Of course I will be. But then again, like I said.....change..."

-Andrew Trento in "As the Board Breaks."

Yours in service,

MASTER A TRENTO